Intel prepared new Lynnfield processors that should make Nehalem microarchitecture really mainstream and popular. Let’s find out if the new LGA1156 CPUs have any chance of ousting LGA775 and Socket AM3 solutions from the market and taking over the leadership.

Conclusion

All in all, LGA1156 platform makes a very good impression. And although it is evident that Intel’s main goal with the new Lynnfield family launch is the transfer of Nehalem microarchitecture to the mainstream price segment, we often got the feeling that it was not a lot-cost LGA1366 platform modification we were dealing with, but its improved and upgraded version.

And we can’t say that this feeling was absolutely ungrounded. The new LGA1156 platform really has a number of advantages. First of all, it is easier to perceive: it works with common dual-channel memory and Lynnfield processors are none other but real desktop and not server solutions stuck into the desktop systems for purely marketing reasons. Secondly, Core i7-800 and Core i5-700 processors have much more attractive power consumption than their predecessors. By slightly changing the platform structure Intel engineers managed to bring the power consumption of Lynnfield platforms to the level of LGA775 platforms that have so far been the best example of great performance per watt ratio. Thirdly, Turbo Mode technology is the biggest advantage of the new processors that allows Lynnfield CPUs to remain efficient even when the created load doesn’t have the definitive multi-threaded nature.

However, if we take into account objective rather than subjective factors, LGA1156 platform will still not be able to change the set state of things. Despite all its evident advantages, LGA1366 mainboards and CPUs will remain popular in the upper price segment. Only these systems allow building multi-GPU configurations using two graphics cards working as PCI Express x16 + x16 or even more cards. Only LGA1366 platforms will be compatible with the upcoming six-core Gulftown processors. And only among Core i7-900 processor family we can find Extreme Edition solutions that offer not only unprecedented performance but also additional overclocking friendly capabilities.

Nevertheless, Core i7-800 and Core i5-700 processors seem to be an excellent replacement for the LGA775 Core 2 Quad CPUs offering much higher performance at the same price. The launch of LGA1156 platform brings a real revolution to the mainstream segment. This platform immediately turns Core 2 and Phenom II CPUs into outdated solutions that can only be of interest in the sub-$200 category.

In other words, from now on we can claim that the true Nehalem era has come. CPUs based on this microarchitecture became not just affordable. They matured and got truly attractive. So, no doubt that the new Core i7-800 and Core i5-700 processors will quickly become very popular and turn into real sales hits.